Archive for the ‘Trends’ Category

Feb

PETITE FASHION TREND: PRETTY IN PINK

Pink is the “IT” color for Spring 2011. For as long as I can remember, pink has been my favorite color so I love seeing retailers push pink. Pink has long been viewed as the color of romance, innocence, and tranquility. Did you know that pink is also recognized as the color of comfort by shoppers during troubled times?

Pink looks good on virtually everybody because some shade of the color works with any skin tone. Choose from petal, peony, geranium, salmon, rose, fuschia, blush, bubble gum, and cherry. Nothing says “I am a girly girl” better than feminine pink ruffles, pink lace, or pink petal trims.

If pink from head-to-toe is too much for you, pair pink dangling earrings or a pink chiffon scarf with white, neutrals, or denim. A pink belt or handbag will add a burst of color to any spring ensemble. Petite women should remember that the brighter the shade of pink you are wearing, the more basic the rest of your outfit should be. A pop of pink on top will always draw attention upward for added height.

Posted by: Kim at 2:49 pm Comments Off | Topic: Trends

Feb

THE SKINNY ON SKINNY JEANS FOR PETITES

One of my favorite parts of being a Petite Fashion Specialist is educating petite women about fashion. I love answering questions and dishing out advice. One of the questions that I am constantly asked lately is, “Can petite women wear skinny jeans?” The answer is ABSOLUTELY, especially when the jeans are proportioned in petite sizes. Petite-sized jeans usually feature a 28″ – 30″ inseam, raised pockets, shorter zippers, tapered legs, and obviously shorter lengths.

It is true that skinny jeans look best on a slender petite frame. However, a skinny jean in a dark denim finish works for petite women with heavier thighs. The straight leg of a skinny jean forms a vertical line that visually elongates the leg.

So what is the difference between a skinny jean and a straight leg jean? The difference is the leg opening. A skinny jean has an 11″ opening while the leg opening on a straight leg jean is around 14″. The hottest new version of a skinny jean is called a jegging, the combination of a skinny jean and a legging, perfect for tucking into your boots. The beauty of a skinny jean is that you can also wear it with ballet flats or heels.

My favorite skinny jeans for petites are Gap’s Always Skinny Jeans $59.50 and Real Straight Jeans $69.50, available in petite sizes at www.gap.com. I also love Not Your Daughter’s Jeans Slim Leg Jean $98 and Jeggings $88. I just did fashion shows for a chain of Florida specialty stores called Anthony’s last week, and Not Your Daughter’s Jeans were the hottest selling item after the shows. They feature a tummy control panel designed to make you instantly look 10 pounds slimmer. Check out where to buy NYDJ using their store locator at www.nydj.com.

NYDJ Slim Leg $98

Posted by: Kim at 10:34 am Comments Off | Topic: Trends

Jan

SCARVES: THE PERFECT PETITE ACCESSORY

Petite fashionistas… Don’t forget to wrap a scarf around your neck this winter for a chic look that adds warmth. Scarves make the perfect petite accessory because they create a high focal point on the petite frame. The selection of scarves for petite women to choose from has never been better. There is a scarf out there to match every fashion personality – classic solids and plaids, feminine lacy weaves, eclectic patterns, animal prints, glittery stripes, faux fur, and even sequined scarves.

Petite Fashionista Rachel Bilson

There is a whole section devoted to scarf tying in my book of fashion advice for petite women, The Petite Handbook. Order a copy today and get easy step-by-step instructions on some of my favorite scarf tying tricks. Available online at www.thepetitehandbook.com.

Posted by: Kim at 6:43 pm 1 Comment » | Topic: Trends

Oct

PENNY LOAFERS ARE WORTH EVERY PENNY

Recent articles in O, The Oprah Magazine and Real Simple sent me flashing back to my preppy collegiate days when I wore my beloved Bass Weejun loafers with literally everything that I owned. The style revival of loafers led me to wonder, “Does a classic loafer ever really got out of style?”

The consensus from my fashion research seems to be that the loafer is not everybody’s look, but this classic, comfortable shoe is always in style, at least in some circles. This season, look for new twists on the iconic and ageless shoe including loafers in bright colors, patent leather, two-tones, animal prints, and even platform heels.

Bass Weejuns

Classic Bass Weejun loafers

Updated loafers from www.avon.com

Posted by: Kim at 10:35 am Comments Off | Topic: Trends